VIJAYAWADA: The AP state government has more or less kissed goodbye to Rs 3,800 crore which it has to get from Telangana for the power it had supplied to the sibling state from its generation stations as per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
“Telangana government is not prepared to even give in writing that it owes Rs 3,800 crore. It says it owes nothing and on the other hand, it says that AP has to pay Rs 1,646 crore which is outrageous,” said a senior official in AP energy department.
Though Chief Secretary level talks had taken place, the issue has not moved even an inch further. “These issues would continue to smoulder. Even in states which were divided in an atmosphere of bonhomie, there were issues that remained unresolved for decades. In our case, the division was marked by bitterness and rancour. Do you think the issue would be resolved that easy?” asked the official.
“Let us first exhaust all options. We are trying to resolve the issue through dialogue but I doubt if talks would make any progress. Nonetheless, we are trying,” said the official, in disgust.